*Jasper's POV

  Annabell slept peacefully. Her presend touch was doing something iing to me. I felt like I was warming up inside. I've never been this calm, for as long as I remember. It would be so easy tet the rest of the world with her by my side. However, the dawn is approag and I, the monster of the night, have to go. I o ge and prepare for school. I'll see her there.

  Or so I thought, gently freeing my hand from hers and slipping out of the house.

  *

  "You're in a hurry today." Appeared Peter in the door of my room, while I was throwing my favorite dark blue jeans and bck shirt on. His expression was unreadable but hardly surprised.

  Ign his remark, I put on my cowboy boots. "Anything new?"

  "You mean beside your i in school? Nope, not really." He remarked, smirking.

  I was restless, I couldn't wait for the moment I get to school. Unfortunately, we didn't have any csses together today but since Rose introduced us, I hope Annabell won't have anything against me joini lunch-break. Maybe I could get her to talk and she might slip some detail about what actually happened after her testierday, siraight asking her about it, is not an option...

  *

  "Oh no! Our Freak finally got lost on the way to school." I heard that Mike-guy say, leaving English css, when I was waiting for Ann', to appear in the hall too. Most of the students around him burst out ughing as well as did he and the trio from the other day. I was furious. I took a single angry step towards them before I felt tw hands on my shoulders pinnio the spot. If I was human their force would break me but any less, wouldn't stop me. Even though they mao halt my movements, only because I allowed it.

  "Shouldn't you be more ed with what's wrong, that she's not here after yesterday?" Rose must have told him.

  Em's words froze me. He's right. "Yea..." I replied absentmindedly and started walking again, when his grip on my shoulders loosened. I passed the still ughing group of stupid kids, like they did. Walking straight into the they came out of. Because the teacher was still there and by a ce it was the one I needed, Mrs Anderson.

  "Good m, professor." I greeted as politely as I was able to, iate of mind I am right now. Doing my utmost to appear calm.

  "Ah, good m, Mr Whitlock. What I do for you?" Asked the teacher quite surprised to see me.

  "Err, Annabell didn't e to school today?" Stay calm, stay calm...

  "Miss Bck? Yes, I'm afraid so. She called before the csses started, that she'll be staying home." On the face of the teacher appeared somewhat motherly expression as she said that.

  Ok, she called. I finally rexed a bit. It shouldn't be anything too serious. "Do you know why?" I couldn't keep from asking.

  She looked me in the eyes and smiled. "How about you stop by my office after the csses and I give you materials from lessons she'll miss today? You ask her yourself when you deliver them to her." She said with a mysterious look. Still smiling, she gathered her textbooks, a notepad ahe .

  The csses went by so slowly, it ractically a torture. When it came to the st one, which we all had together again. I almost didn't st through it. Edward's smirking at my restlessness nearly set me off. I couldn't wait to see her again. What is wrong that she didn't go to school? What rea awaits me when I appear at her doorstep? Man, I'll go crazy like this... Rose shot me a look and I rexed my hand that almost crushed the pen I was holding. Earning me an eye roll from her. Just a little longer.

  *

  Getting closer to the small, light brown house I listened for her heartbeat. It appears, she's i if I remember yout of the house correctly. She's up. That's good. I thought relieved and knocked on the door. Her emotions turo fusion and curiosity but the closer she got, the calmer she was. And my ability had nothing to do with it. Could she really...?

  "Who's there?" She called from behind the door. Huh?

  "It's Jasper. Whitlock, from school. Do you remember me?" She's... disappointed? Was she expeg someone else? Maybe I imagined her saying my name yesterday or it just got mixed up. "Of course I remember." She said opening the door. In bck shorts and a little oversized dark blue shirt, wearing it more like a dress, she would be breathtaking. Not being for the paleness. Her skin aler than usual. She looked like a ghost. A very beautiful ghost.

  "Please, e on in. What brings you here, Jasper?" She asked on the way to the kit. Do I bother her? Maybe I shouldn't have e. I thought sadly. I she took a cup, turning to me again. "Would you like some coffee?"

  "Oh, no thank you Annabell. I brought you materials from today's lessons. Mrs. Anderson was uhe impression you'd like to have them and that it looked like we're getting along quite nicely, so she entrusted me with their delivery. She told me your address and that you are not feeling well. Are you alright?" I tried to sound casual but it doesn't work. I'm way too worried after what happened yesterday in the woods. She seems happy now, though."Ah, yea. She knows how much I was looking forward today's music lesson."

  Oh, that's why. "That's why it's on a CD, right?" I asked, but she started to ugh.  "Wrong. Hehe. That's because Mrs. Anderso know Braille. She puts everything in files and on a CD. I put it in the puter and it reads it for me." She expined and I wao facepalm myself for how stupid I make myself in front of her. Her giggles are so cute. crossed my mind. "Usually it is stuff professive out on papers and other additional materials. However, this is a first, she had to seuff I missed out on." She said smiling. Strangely calm, instead of telling me how dumb I am, for not putting the facts together on my own. Then she paused and just stood there for a while. It made me worried again.  "Annabell?" Nothing. Is there something wrong? "Annabell?" I tried again. No response, so I walked up to her and lightly put my hand on her left arm. Trying to not startle her. "Annabell? Are you ok? I'm sorry, I keep kinda fetting." I apologized, afraid, my obvious ignorance offended her. But she ughed again.

  "No no, I'm fine. I just got a little lost in my thoughts." She said smiling. "That's ok. I'm used to it. There are always two possibilities. You'll get used to it, maybe sometime fet and we'll ugh at it or you'll end up calling me a freak like everybody else." She shrugged like it's nothing. However, her emotions gave her away. They told me how much pain it would cause her. I'd never hurt you like that! I wao tell her. I couldn't imagine calling her a freak. Anytime that bastard Mike calls her this way, I want to kill him on the spot.

  "Don't worry Ann', that's not gonna happen." I reassured her while softly rubbing small circles on her arm with my thumb. Calming her. She covered my hand with hers, happy again.

  "If you say so... umm could I-?" She started hesitantly.

  "Could what?" I asked, really curious what she could possibly want?"Could I feel your face? I'd really like to know what you look like." She admitted while her face finally gained some color. She looked so pale since yesterday... She nervously bit her lip and that sight somehow fasated me.  Remembering, she asked me a question, I couldn't say anything else, nor was I able to say more than "Yes." I hardly reized my own voice, tainted by desire. The thought of her touch... The fact that she practically held my hand in hers and not for the first time, made me want to feel her more... and now she wants to touch me?

  Without another word, she moved her hand from the top of mine and ay chest. Putting it on my left shoulder, her left hand followed up to my right shoulder and I let my own hand fall down alongside my body.

  On her face appeared a mysterious smile and then she tinued up my shoulders, to my neck.I feared the moment she feels how cold and stone-like my skin is again. How disgusted or even afraid of me she'll be. However, the sed she got to the bare skin on my neck, a little different problem preseself to me. It felt like electricity went through my whole body, making me suppress the shiver it caused, to prevent Annabell from thinking that she did something wrong. Or myself from having to tell her what her touch is doing to me, as well as keeping myself in pot toug her...Her fingers were leaving fmes on my skin as she moved them slowly up my neck.

  "Blond?" She asked.

  "Uh-huh." Was the only answer, I was capable of. Not trusting my voice to work properly.

  She tinued along my jawline and up my cheeks. Her fingers were burning me alive. I've never felt this kind of hunger and ched my fists in an attempt to keep my posure. At least that little, still remaining. Which, she made even harder wheook an obviously unscious step closer and our bodies were nearly toug now. "What color are your eyes?" I heard her ask."Golden." I barely whispered, not really sure if it was loud enough for her to hear.

  I tried to prepare myself for it but whe to my mouth, gently brushing her fiips over my lips, her own slightly parted. I couldn't take my eyes away. I wonder what they taste like... I felt myself slowly giving in to the temptation she presented for me.

  She stiffened and taking a step back she stuttered "I-I'm sorry." Feeling embarrassed. Made me wonder for a sed if I didn't say it out loud. "Thank you fing the CD." She tried to smile not really succeeding. I have to get away. Was my only rational thought then. The moment was broken but Annabell was still not further than an arm length from me with that embarrassed look on her blushing fad her beautiful lips now slightly swollen from how hard she was biting them, were just asking to be kissed.

  "It's nothing." I started to make my leave. She bit on her lip again, this time angry. "The CD is oable, right o you. I gotta go now, but I'm gd you're feelier." I tinued on the way out. "It was nice seeing you." And I was out of the door. Beside embarrassment, there was sadness in her emotions again. Momentarily I wasn't capable of calming myself, much less her. When how I wao 'calm' her didn't really involve my ability. I tried something else. "Oh! See ya' at school." I called back with hope it will help at least a little. And I was gone.